Hey there, Thinking of making new friends online? Well, let me share something important with you. There are some shady folks out there using Tinder and Tantan to pull off money scams, and you gotta be careful!
And guess what? Scams are pretty darn common in China, especially in the northern cities. You’ve got counterfeit stuff, fake banknotes, tricky tea ceremonies, overpriced taxis, and even fake monks! It’s like a scam fest!
So, you might be wondering, why do these scams happen so much in China? Well, it goes way back to a tough time in our history called the Great Leap Forward famine.
People who lived through it developed this mindset of grabbing whatever they could to survive. It’s like a long-lasting fear of not having enough.
And even now, there are millions of people in China who fall for all sorts of schemes (like my parents 🧐) I mean, just a while back, there was this OneCoin Ponzi scheme that scammed so many people! It’s crazy!
And don’t think all Chinese folks are okay with this. Nah, plenty of them are embarrassed by these scams and wish they’d stop.
Chinese Tinder Scams
It’s evident that the scammers on Tinder use various tricks to manipulate and deceive their targets. To avoid falling for their schemes, here are some red flags and tips on how to spot and deal with them:
- Unverified Profiles and Stolen Photos: Scammers often use stolen photos to create attractive profiles. Perform a reverse image search to see if the photos are authentic or taken from social media accounts of other individuals.
- Inconsistent Stories: Pay attention to inconsistencies in their stories. In the example given, the scammer claimed to own a beauty salon and a clothing factory, but the Facebook profile mentioned a different occupation. Such discrepancies should raise suspicion.
- Fake Locations: Scammers may use VPNs to change their virtual location. If someone claims to be from a certain place but their distance keeps changing drastically, it might indicate they are using deceptive techniques.
- Love Bombing: Scammers tend to overwhelm their targets with excessive attention and affection early on to create an emotional connection. Be cautious if someone is too intense or moves the relationship too quickly.
- Avoiding Voice or Video Calls: If the person consistently avoids voice or video calls and comes up with excuses not to do them, it’s a sign of potential deception.
- Unrealistic Financial Promises: Scammers may entice their targets with promises of guaranteed investments and quick profits. Be wary of anyone asking for money or promising unrealistic returns.
- Test Their Authenticity: If you suspect someone might be a scammer, try to test their authenticity by asking for specific gestures in photos or suggesting voice or video calls. Legitimate people are more likely to comply.
- Don’t Share Personal Information: Avoid sharing sensitive personal information with someone you’ve just met online. Be cautious about revealing financial details or engaging in any financial transactions.
- Beware of investment offers: If someone you just met online encourages you to invest in something, particularly cryptocurrencies or other high-risk assets, be cautious. Do thorough research and seek advice from trusted financial experts before making any investment decisions.
- Reverse image search: As you discovered, performing a reverse image search on google can help identify whether the person’s photos are genuine or stolen from elsewhere. If you find multiple profiles with different names and nationalities, it’s a red flag. (I found at least 2 fake profiles with this methods.😛)
- Avoid unknown crypto platforms: Stick to well-known and reputable cryptocurrency platforms and exchanges when dealing with digital assets. Scammers often lure victims into using lesser-known platforms to execute their scams.
- Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off or too good to be true, trust your instincts. Take a step back and evaluate the situation before getting further involved.
- Report and Block: If you encounter suspicious behavior or believe you’ve come across a scammer, report the profile to Tinder and block the person to prevent further communication.
- Don’t send money to strangers: Avoid sending money to people you meet online, especially if they ask for financial assistance or investment funds.
- Seek support: If you’ve fallen victim to a scam or experienced emotional distress due to an online encounter, consider seeking professional help or support from friends and family.
Chinese Tinder Scams Offline
- The Tempting Tea Ceremony: Scammers pretend to show you a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. They make it seem like a cultural experience, but they’re just trying to gain your trust to trick you and you will have pay for the bill. (I KNOW THIS SCAM STILL HAPPENS IN SHANGHAI AND BEIJING TODDAY.)
- Expensive Dinners: They might invite you to fancy restaurants and show off their wealth. It’s all an act to impress you and make you trust them, later they’re after your money.
- Lavish Drinks at Fancy Spots: These scammers take you to upscale bars and places to make you feel special. They use charm and compliments to make you fall for them, but it’s just part of their dishonest plan to let you pay for the ridiculous drink bill later.
What To Do If You Get Scammed
If you are a foreigner in a major city in China and you have been scammed, especially through expensive tea, drinks, or dinners arranged on dating apps, don’t hesitate to take action.
- You can immediately report the incident to the police. Cities like Beijing and Shanghai take their reputation seriously, and the police will assist you. Sometimes, the scammers will stop you once you start dailing the police number. Don’t ask me how I know it 🤣
- Alternatively, you can give some cash and then leave the situation immediately. Scammers are unlikely to involve the police since they are the ones engaged in criminal activities. Stay vigilant and cautious to avoid falling victim to such scams.
Or……
TROLL THEM! 👀💪
- Pretend to be overly naive: Act like you don’t understand their scam and keep asking them to explain it repeatedly. Waste their time with endless questions and act completely clueless.
- Send them on a wild goose chase: Give them fake information, create fictional characters or locations, and see how long you can keep them engaged with a convoluted storyline.
- Reverse the scam: Act like you’re interested in the scam but try to convince them to send money or valuable information to you instead.
- Use humor: Respond to their scam attempts with jokes, memes, or funny GIFs. Keep the tone light-hearted and never reveal any personal or sensitive information.
- Play dumb: Act like you don’t understand basic technology or internet jargon. Make them repeat simple instructions, pretending not to grasp the concept.
- Be an overly enthusiastic friend: Shower them with compliments, praise their “business ventures,” and act like their biggest fan. This might throw them off guard.
- Speak in gibberish: Respond to their messages with random and nonsensical sentences, making it difficult for them to understand or reply coherently.
Remember, the goal is to waste their time and make their scamming efforts less effective. Never engage in illegal activities or harass scammers, as this can lead to serious consequences for you.
Additionally, consider reporting the scammer to the platform or authorities to protect others from falling victim to their schemes.
Chinese on Tinder Asking for Whatsapp
It seems that some users have encountered a pattern where Chinese girls on Tinder quickly ask for their WhatsApp number after matching.
There are various opinions about the reasons behind this behavior, with some users suspecting it to be a scam.
Possible explanations or speculations include:
- Investment Scam: Some users have experienced these Chinese girls talking about their successful investments and being overly interested in the user’s job and salary. It is speculated that they might be trying to promote or convince users to invest in certain assets or platforms, possibly leading to a scam.
- Bot or Fake Accounts: Some users suspect that these profiles might be run by bots or fake accounts, which are designed to engage in conversation and potentially gather personal information.
- Phone Number Collection: It’s suggested that one of the purposes could be to collect phone numbers for unknown reasons, such as for spam, advertisements, or other types of unsolicited communication.
- Language Practice or Cultural Interest: A few users mentioned the possibility that some of these girls might genuinely be interested in language practice or learning about different cultures, although this doesn’t explain the focus on moving to WhatsApp quickly.
- Verification Code Scam: There is a speculation that these scammers might be trying to access certain online accounts by obtaining the verification code sent to the user’s phone number, although this would require additional information like email and password.
- Pump and Dump Scheme: One user mentioned the possibility of a pump and dump scheme related to cryptocurrencies or investments.
Tantan Fake Profiles
The potential scam on Tantan involves beautiful girls approaching users and engaging them in conversations that eventually lead to the recommendation of an online lottery game or app.
The girls claim to have discovered a trick to earn free money through the lottery and encourage the user to register and play with them.
These are a few possible scams that could be associated with this pattern:
- Fake Lottery App: The girls may direct users to download a fake lottery app that promises easy money but is designed to steal personal information, such as login credentials or financial data, once installed.
- Click Fraud: It’s mentioned that the girls might be advertising links and getting paid for every visitor they bring. This could involve click fraud, where they deceive users into clicking on certain links to generate revenue for themselves or third-party advertisers.
- In-App Purchases: The lottery app they recommend might require in-app purchases to participate fully, and once users start playing, they may be encouraged to spend money on virtual items or currency, leading to financial losses.
- Identity Theft: The information shared on Tantan or any other app may be used to gather personal data and engage in identity theft or other fraudulent activities.
- Premium Account Scam: The girls might persuade users to upgrade to premium accounts or subscription plans promising exclusive benefits, only to disappear or provide minimal value after the upgrade is done.
- Social Engineering: Once the girls establish trust, they could attempt to exploit emotional connections to manipulate users into sending money or gifts.
Chinese Dating Scammer Photos
Steps to Identify Genuine Chinese Matches
- Profile Verification: Check if the dating app has a profile verification system. Genuine users are more likely to go through the verification process, which may involve linking their profile to a phone number or social media account.
- Bio and Description: Read the user’s bio and description thoroughly. Look for details that seem genuine and consistent. Watch out for generic or vague profiles, as they may indicate fake accounts.
- Photos: Genuine profiles usually have a variety of photos, showcasing the person’s lifestyle, hobbies, and interests. Avoid profiles with only professional or stock images, as they could be impersonating someone else.
- Language and Grammar: Pay attention to the language used in the profile. Many fake profiles have poor grammar and spelling mistakes. Genuine users are more likely to have well-written profiles.
- Communication: When you start conversing with someone, observe their communication style. Genuine individuals tend to be more interested in getting to know you and engaging in meaningful conversations. Be cautious of users who quickly push for personal information or financial assistance.
- Social Media Links: If the dating app allows users to link their social media profiles, check for consistency between their dating profile and other online accounts. This can help validate their identity.
- Video or Voice Calls: Suggest having a video or voice call with the person. It can be an excellent way to verify their identity and get a better sense of their authenticity.
FAQs:
How does a Chinese scammer fake a video call?
Scammers can use various methods to fake a video call, such as using pre-recorded videos or employing deepfake technology. However, discussing the specifics of how scammers deceive people is not advisable, as it might inadvertently promote unethical behavior.
Will a romance scammer talk on the phone?
Some romance scammers might be willing to talk on the phone to build trust and credibility with their victims. However, many scammers prefer to keep communication online to hide their true identity and avoid being traced.
What are 3 excuses a Chinese romance scammer uses?
Romance scammers can be creative in finding excuses to manipulate their victims. Some common excuses include:
a. Financial hardships: They may claim to be facing financial difficulties or emergencies, seeking financial assistance from their victims.
b. Travel-related issues: Scammers might ask for money to cover travel expenses to meet their victims or to deal with unexpected issues while traveling.
c. Health problems: They might use health-related excuses to elicit sympathy and money from their targets.
How do you scare a romance scammer?
It’s not advisable to try to scare or confront a scammer directly, as this could potentially escalate the situation and put you at risk.
Instead, take the following actions:
a. Cut off communication: Cease all contact with the scammer immediately.
b. Report the scammer: Report the incident to your local law enforcement and to the website or platform where you encountered the scammer.
c. Educate others: Share your experience with family and friends to raise awareness and prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.
